The Buddha teaches a repeated simile of a cowherd with eleven factors and a mendicant with eleven qualities, applying the comparison across sense bases and meditative perceptions in this grouped discourse.

AN 11.22-29 Similarity

“Ekādasahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato gopālako abhabbo gogaṇaṁ pariharituṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ. Katamehi ekādasahi? Idha, bhikkhave, gopālako na rūpaññū hoti, na lakkhaṇakusalo hoti, na āsāṭikaṁ hāretā hoti, na vaṇaṁ paṭicchādetā hoti, na dhūmaṁ kattā hoti, na titthaṁ jānāti, na pītaṁ jānāti, na vīthiṁ jānāti, na gocarakusalo hoti, anavasesadohī ca hoti, ye te usabhā gopitaro gopariṇāyakā te na atirekapūjāya pūjetā hoti imehi kho, bhikkhave, ekādasahi aṅgehi samannāgato gopālako abhabbo gogaṇaṁ pariharituṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekādasahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ aniccānupassī viharituṁ… pe…

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ dukkhānupassī viharituṁ…

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ anattānupassī viharituṁ…

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ khayānupassī viharituṁ…

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ vayānupassī viharituṁ…

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ virāgānupassī viharituṁ…

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ nirodhānupassī viharituṁ…

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ paṭinissaggānupassī viharituṁ”.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Ekādasahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato gopālako abhabbo gogaṇaṁ pariharituṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ.

“Mendicants, a cowherd with eleven factors can’t maintain and expand a herd of cattle.

Katamehi ekādasahi?

What eleven?

Idha, bhikkhave, gopālako na rūpaññū hoti, na lakkhaṇakusalo hoti, na āsāṭikaṁ hāretā hoti, na vaṇaṁ paṭicchādetā hoti, na dhūmaṁ kattā hoti, na titthaṁ jānāti, na pītaṁ jānāti, na vīthiṁ jānāti, na gocarakusalo hoti, anavasesadohī ca hoti, ye te usabhā gopitaro gopariṇāyakā te na atirekapūjāya pūjetā hoti

It’s when a cowherd doesn’t know form, is unskilled in characteristics, doesn’t pick out flies’ eggs, doesn’t dress wounds, doesn’t spread smoke, doesn’t know the ford, doesn’t know satisfaction, doesn’t know the trail, is not skilled in pastures, milks dry, and doesn’t show extra respect to the bulls who are fathers and captains of the herd.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, ekādasahi aṅgehi samannāgato gopālako abhabbo gogaṇaṁ pariharituṁ phātiṁ kātuṁ.

A cowherd with these eleven factors can’t maintain and expand a herd of cattle.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekādasahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ aniccānupassī viharituṁ…

In the same way, a mendicant with eleven qualities can’t meditate observing impermanence in the eye …

pe…

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ dukkhānupassī viharituṁ…

suffering …

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ anattānupassī viharituṁ…

not-self …

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ khayānupassī viharituṁ…

ending …

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ vayānupassī viharituṁ…

vanishing …

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ virāgānupassī viharituṁ…

fading away …

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ nirodhānupassī viharituṁ…

cessation …

abhabbo cakkhusmiṁ paṭinissaggānupassī viharituṁ”.

letting go …”

Qualities:

Contentment

Contentment

The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.

Also known as: fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease
Pāli: santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, pūjā, sakkāra
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026